Chapter 1

The night before our engagement party, Damian Pierce buried his face against my neck and whispered huskily:

"Little stutterer... you should really learn from Chloe how to make sounds in bed. She’s ten times better than you."

My blood ran cold in an instant.

Chloe was the daughter of my father's mistress.

Years ago, her mother forced her way into our home, driving my mother to commit suicide while pregnant with my unborn baby brother.

Damian continued nonchalantly:

"When you dropped off the engagement invitations last time, she was right beside me."

"Hearing your stuttering voice over the speaker made her moan even louder."

He stared at his phone screen, a cruel smirk curling the corner of his lips:

"I finally understand why your father couldn't resist her mom. You and your mother were both pathetic stutterers, but when Chloe opens her mouth, it drives me wild."

Damian waited for me to break down and scream, the way I had the first time I caught him cheating.

Instead, I said nothing. I quietly gathered my clothes from the floor and put them on.

Damian paused, caught off guard, then let out a soft scoff:

"Chloe was right. You've finally learned to behave."

The screen went dark. He reached out, gently stroking my cheek:

"Tomorrow is our engagement party. Be a good Mrs. Pierce from now on."

Becoming Mrs. Pierce. I had waited seven long years for that title.

Now, I didn't want it anymore.

"Julianna, you look stunning in this dress."

It was a diamond-encrusted gown with an endless train, shimmering like scattered starlight.

It was breathtaking.

Except it wasn't my size.

I looked down at the loose gap around my waist—an empty hollow that could never be filled.

Damian gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, leaning down to murmur:

"Chloe spent weeks tracking down an elite designer overseas just to make this for you. She put so much heart into our engagement. Do you like it?"

I took a step back, slipping out of his embrace.

I stayed silent.

Damian chuckled and tapped my nose:

"What's this? Still mad about last night?"

"Come on, it's not like it's the first time."

I kept my eyes cast down, hiding every shred of emotion, and shook my head:

"N-No."

Damian frowned slightly, sensing something was off.

Usually, I would throw a fit or burst into tears. But today, I was as calm as stagnant water.

He softened his voice, coaxing me:

"Julianna, you’re about to become Mrs. Pierce. You need to be more gracious."

With that, he pulled an exquisite velvet box from behind his back.

Inside lay a teardrop-shaped blue diamond necklace.

He leaned in and fastened it around my neck.

"Your favorite—the Heart of the Ocean. Remember?"

The icy stone pressed against my collarbone, sending a shiver down my spine.

Seven years ago, at a high-society gala.

Cruel heiresses had surrounded me, mocking my stutter, before someone deliberately tripped me into the swimming pool.

They stood around the edge, laughing:

"Look at the dumb little stutterer! I heard her mom was a stuttering country bumpkin too. Guess being a freak runs in the family."

"Mock her! 'I-I-I-I...' What a joke!"

Having watched my cousin drown when I was a child, water terrified me. I flailed in sheer panic, water burning my lungs like razor blades.

Just as I thought the cold darkness would swallow me whole—

Damian jumped in and pulled me out.

He held my shivering body, glaring at the crowd with dark fury:

"She isn't a stutterer. Even the ocean trembles with its waves. She's just waiting for someone who understands her."

"From now on, she belongs to me. Anyone who touches her makes an enemy of the entire Pierce family."

That was the night he confessed his love and swore to protect me for the rest of his life.

A sudden, piercing scream shattered my memories.

"Ah—!"

Damian's face instantly shifted. He whipped around and threw open the door.

Chloe was sprawled on the floor, a thin scratch bleeding on her ankle.

Damian scooped her up, his eyes filled with panic, and roared at the maids:

"Are you all useless? If this leaves a scar on Chloe, can any of you afford the consequences? Get the hell out!"

With tear-filled eyes, Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck, whimpering, "Damian, it hurts so much..."

Then came Damian’s gentle murmurs of comfort.

Moments later, the door creaked open. He looked at me, hesitating:

"Chloe's hurt. I'm worried she fractured a bone, so I need to take her to the hospital for an X-ray."

"About the engagement party today..."

Postponed again?

I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat, a dull ache sawing through my chest.

Nestled in his arms, Chloe flashed me a subtle, triumphant smirk.

"Julianna, I'm so sorry... because of me, your engagement has to be delayed again. You won't hold it against me, will you?"

Seven years with Damian.

This was the twenty-fourth time he had postponed our engagement for Chloe.

The first time, she had a mild fever, and he abandoned me to nurse her.

The second time, she felt down, and he flew her to the coast to clear her head.

The third time, she lost her pet dog, and he searched the city streets all night.

...

Today was the twenty-fourth time.

A tiny scratch that a band-aid could cover was enough to turn my engagement into a public laughingstock.

Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit my stomach.

Up since 2:00 AM for hair, makeup, and fittings, I hadn't had a single drop of water. My chronic gastritis was flaring up again.

Seeing how pale I was, Damian hesitated, a flash of guilt crossing his eyes. He lowered his voice, coaxing:

"Be good, Julianna. Your sister has suffered her whole life under the stigma of being an illegitimate child. You're the older sister; be the bigger person."

"Don't worry. In three days, I'll throw you an even grander engagement party."

"I made a vow: the only woman I will ever marry is you."

With that, he hurried away, carrying Chloe in his arms.

The grand hall fell dead silent, feeling as desolate as an empty grave.

Trembling, I dug a bottle of pills from my purse and swallowed two dry.

My phone on the table buzzed.

It was a text from Chloe:

[Dear sister, if I recall correctly, this is the twenty-fourth time Damian has postponed the engagement for me, isn't it?]

[Just like your stuttering mother, you can't keep a man. How pathetic!]

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, wearing a gown that didn't fit.

Damian, I won't be your Mrs. Pierce anymore.